TSgt. Raymond F. Leftwich

TSgt Raymond F. Leftwich was killed in action 9 March 1967, when the EC-47 aircraft tail number 43-49201 call-sign TIDE 86 on which he was serving as an Airborne Morse Systems Operator, crashed in South Vietnam.

TSgt Leftwich was born 20 September 1925, in Treece, Kansas.

He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942 and served in the Central Pacific Theater in World War II as a Navy radio operator. His tours included action in the Solomons, Leyte, Luzon, and Ryukyu Islands. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in December 1946 and served three years before going into the Air Force Reserve. After a short break in service, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1954 and was stationed at Goodfellow AFB, Texas, where he attended Morse code training.

TSgt Leftwich’s awards and decorations include the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze service stars, World War II Victory Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Air Medal. TSgt Leftwich was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart posthumously.